In recent months you may have noticed several good news stories in the local press showing that, despite the economic downturn, there has been millions of pounds’ worth of investment in Medway, with health, education, transport and green spaces the main beneficiaries.
However, you may not realise what a significant amount is being invested, or that all of it comes from the Labour government. Medway’s Tories would have you believe that we’re hard done by and singled out for poor treatment - but the reality is very different.
Not only has the Great Lines Park been awarded £2 million for pathways, cyclepaths and a new bridge, but local parks in Hoo, and Hillyfields have also received a cash boost.  There’s also been an extra £1.1 million to improve twenty two local play areas.
Schools have benefited from major government investment.  Results have improved greatly over the past ten years, which is also a testament to teachers’ and pupils’ hard work, but the three new academies planned for Strood, Chatham and Gillingham should ensure real benefits.  Each of these projects will see between £20 and £25 million pounds invested in new buildings and equipment.
Following genuine concern about people’s ability to access GPs’ services, the Government has ensured surgeries stay open longer, including weekends.  Locally, another £4 million investment will establish three new GPs’ surgeries and a new healthcare centre, meaning that residents will have more access to their doctor.
Also, as part of the Governments pledge to improve the health of local people, around £350,000 has been invested to provide free swimming for the under 16s and over 60s in our local pools.
Finally, Medway’s road infrastructure has been given a boost.  Both the Medway tunnel and Strood will benefit from around £5million each, to tackle the obvious problems of congestion and disrepair.
So, not only is Medway benefiting from around £200 million of money to regenerate the area there is ongoing Government investment across the board.  Instead of being abandoned, as Medway was under the last Tory Government, we can see continuing tangible improvements in a difficult economic climate.